Volume One, Chapter 69: The Quiet Nobody Accuses the Famous Star

News of Yang Jing’s upcoming concert and the release of her new song had already spread online, dominating the trending charts for several consecutive days. When tickets for the concert went on sale, they sold out rapidly despite being priced significantly higher than those of other singers. The fervor was palpable, and while Yang Jing felt both proud and slightly anxious, she couldn’t deny that it had been far too long since she last performed on stage.

On the other hand, Chi Qianyu wasn’t nervous at all; she was simply brimming with joy. “Mom, what color should I wear for the concert?” she asked cheerfully.

At Yang Jing’s concert, Chi Qianyu would appear as a guest performer, showcasing a solo dance. This was her own personal spotlight, unrelated to her girl group. Because of this, her group members were green with envy, and some even tried to cozy up to her for days, hoping for a chance to accompany her on stage. She turned them all down. For this performance, she wanted to be the sole presence on stage, all the lights focused on her alone.

Sitting nearby, Chi Yueyao laughed. “Qianyu, how about I help you pick an outfit?”

“Sounds great! And since you’ll need to pick one too, let’s make sure our styles are distinct,” Qianyu replied immediately.

Chi Yueyao was also scheduled to perform as a guest at Yang Jing’s concert, delivering a violin solo. When Yang Jing first invited her, she had barely contained her excitement. Ambition flickered in her eyes; she was determined to seize this opportunity and step into the public eye. She had never been content to remain obscure, yet she also refused to become an idol like Chi Qianyu, whom she considered little more than an entertainer, lacking any true elegance.

The bickering between the two wore on Yang Jing’s nerves. Just then, her agent called, providing the perfect excuse to send them both away.

On the other end of the line, her agent said, “Jing, the song ‘Drifting and Sinking’ will be released at midnight. Tomorrow, I’ve scheduled an interview for you. You’ll need to talk about the creative process behind this song. Is that alright?”

“No problem. I’m ready,” Yang Jing assured her.

As midnight arrived, after several days of anticipation, “Drifting and Sinking,” touted as Yang Jing’s first original piece, was released across major music platforms. In less than half an hour, it shot to the top of the rising charts, then to the overall charts, and related topics quickly surged to the forefront of every forum’s trending lists.

Music critics and reaction video bloggers raced to upload their responses as soon as the song dropped. Not to mention, numerous friends and juniors in the entertainment industry timed their well-wishes and compliments to perfection.

Within the entertainment world, the excitement was unprecedented; only major scandals typically drew this much attention. Yang Jing kept a close eye on online opinion, refreshing her feeds for over two hours before finally feeling reassured. All her previous concerns proved unfounded—everything was unfolding as planned. Relieved, she set her phone aside and drifted off to sleep.

The following day, her agent arrived at the Chi residence with the interview crew. The questions had all been prearranged, and the session proceeded smoothly. That evening, the edited interview was uploaded online, sparking another wave of heated discussion.

With light makeup, Yang Jing sat before the camera and recounted her “creative journey” with “Drifting and Sinking.”

“All these years, though I’ve rarely appeared before the public, my passion for music has never waned, nor has my exploration of it ever ceased.

“I’m grateful to the many musicians I know, who have written wonderful songs for me, but ultimately, they are not me. Many of my innermost thoughts are not theirs to understand.

“I wanted to express my heart through my own music, so I decided to embark on the path of songwriting.

“‘Drifting and Sinking’ took me ten years to write. Perhaps many people can sense the song’s tinge of sadness—it reflects my journey over the past decade, the struggles, the moments of despair, and even times when I considered giving up…”

Wei Shian watched Yang Jing’s interview from her computer, biting her lip, eyes burning with resentment.

“That’s not true! That’s not what the song means at all. She’s making things up. How can she so carelessly assign new meaning to my song?”

Chi Xingwan patted her on the shoulder. “I told you not to watch it. Now look, you’re just upsetting yourself.”

“I couldn’t help it…” Wei Shian replied, aggrieved.

Chi Xingwan tried to comfort her. “Don’t worry. Her triumph is only temporary. Soon, the truth will come to light.”

Wei Shian nodded emphatically.

With five days left until the concert, the organizers posted Yang Jing’s rehearsal videos online daily, further stoking public anticipation. Then, a piece of news shattered the celebratory mood.

Wei Shian, through her lawyer, accused Yang Jing of plagiarizing her song “Drifting and Sinking.” Thanks to behind-the-scenes efforts from Grandma Xiao, the news rocketed to the top of the trending searches, spawning countless related topics all tied to Yang Jing.

Almost immediately, Yang Jing’s studio issued a clarification, stating they reserved the right to pursue legal action against Wei Shian for slander and false accusations.

Public opinion swung decisively in Yang Jing’s favor, with most people online denouncing and berating Wei Shian.

[Who does this Wei woman think she is, daring to challenge Diva Yang? Does she even know her place? She must be desperate for fame.]

[Honestly, this level of clout-chasing is astonishing. I don’t know anything else, but I’ll definitely remember Wei Shian’s name now.]

Some, however, delighted in the spectacle.

[Let the drama begin! Is this the year’s first big scandal?]

[So who is it—a shameless opportunist riding the coattails of fame, or a superstar bullying a nobody? Let’s see how it ends.]

Still, the overwhelming consensus was against Wei Shian, with many of Yang Jing’s fans digging into her personal information.

Even so, Yang Jing was deeply unsettled.

“What should we do? Have you managed to reach this Wei Shian? Can we settle this privately, convince her to withdraw the lawsuit?”

Her agent shook his head. “No. We can only get hold of her lawyer now. They’re completely unyielding, intent on pursuing this to the end.”

Yang Jing, frustrated, clutched her head. “Offer them money—whatever they want, just give it to them.”

“They haven’t made any demands,” the agent replied helplessly.

“Then what are we supposed to do?” Yang Jing almost shouted.

Her agent, temper barely in check, said, “We’ll just have to wait it out. I’ve deleted all her information from our files; she shouldn’t have any evidence. If this goes to court, we might not lose.”

“And even in the worst-case scenario,” she added, “all that would come out is that we bought the song from her. We can’t be convicted of plagiarism.”

Yang Jing was still dissatisfied. “By that point, my reputation will already be ruined!”

“I’m only talking about the worst-case scenario. It won’t come to that. She’s a nobody—I checked thoroughly when we bought the song. She has no backing and can’t make much of a splash. This will be over soon.”